keye
Middle English
Etymology 1
From Old English cǣġ, from Proto-West Germanic *kaiju; the final vowel is from the Old English oblique cases.
Alternative forms
- kai, kay, kaye, keie, keiȝe, key, keyȝe, kye
- (early) cæȝe, kæie
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈkɛi̯(ə)/
- (Northern) IPA(key): /ˈkeːj(ə)/, /ˈkeː(ə)/
Noun
keye (plural keyes or keyen)
- A key; a tool for opening locks.
- In various extended senses:
- (architecture) A protrusion at the apex of a vault.
- (music, rare) A musical sound; a note or tone.
- (nautical, rare) A rudder (device for steering a ship)
- In various figurative senses:
- Control, safety, or that which ensures it.
- A requirement or prerequisite.
- (rare) An explication; explanatory material.
Descendants
- English: key
- Scots: key, kee, kye
References
- “keie, n.(1).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
Etymology 2
Borrowed from Old French kay, cail.
Alternative forms
- caye, kaye
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /kɛi̯/
Noun
keye (plural keyes)
- quay
Descendants
- English: quay, cay
- → Scottish Gaelic: cidhe
- Yola: kie
References
- “keie, n.(2).”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007.
Zazaki
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [kɛˈjɛ]
- Hyphenation: ke‧ye
Noun
keye m
- house